Deputy Minister of Transport Konstantinos Kyranakis announced the pilot implementation of 24-hour operation for metro, tram, and bus services on one Saturday in July, as well as the activation of a digital map recording traffic accidents, during his appearance on Direct with Giorgos Evgenidis on protothema.gr.

Kyranakis revealed that he has requested a feasibility study on 24-hour metro operation on Saturdays and tram service along the coastal zone in the summer. He emphasized that on one Saturday in July, the measure will be piloted (across metro, tram, and buses), aiming to evaluate the system’s performance under demanding conditions, with the goal of rolling it out permanently every Saturday from 2026.

The minister placed special emphasis on the digital accident map, now available at accidents.maps.gov.gr, which logs traffic incidents by year, location, and type of accident, starting with the Attica region. This map, he noted, will enable municipalities and regional authorities to implement targeted interventions in areas with consistently high risk.

Kyranakis also criticized the reduction in Highway Code fines by the previous SYRIZA government, stating that since 2018 there has been a stagnation and increase in traffic accidents—something, he said, “we are obliged to reverse.” The new Highway Code will introduce a system of escalation: after a first offense, drivers will be notified digitally via the Wallet app, and subsequent penalties will be significantly harsher. “Rehabilitation” will require five years without any violations, proving a genuine change in driving behavior. Fines will be sent through gov.gr and paid electronically, while a new unified information system linking all traffic cameras is expected to be ready by September.

Commenting on the reaction of Thymios Lymberopoulos from the Attica Taxi Drivers’ Union regarding the nightlife and taxi measure, Kyranakis referred to a longstanding personal dispute (on Lymberopoulos’s side), stressing his desire to engage in dialogue with those seeking solutions—not conflict for publicity. “He is not a taxi driver; he is a professional unionist,” he stated.

Lastly, regarding the railways, the minister said that a new company will be established immediately after the passage of the relevant law, aiming to attract new talent from abroad as part of a “brain gain” initiative. He added that by August 2026, the Athens–Thessaloniki corridor will have full remote train control systems in place.